Bothriechis thalassinus CAMPBELL & SMITH, 2000
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Bothriechis thalassinus
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| Higher Taxa | Viperidae, Crotalinae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | G: Meerblaue Palmenlanzenotter |
| Synonym | Bothriechis thalassinus CAMPBELL & SMITH 2000 Bothriechis thalassinus — MONZEL & WÜSTER 2008 Bothriechis thalassinus — WALLACH et al. 2014: 109 |
| Distribution | Guatemala, Honduras (elevation 1370-1750 m) Type locality: "Finca la Firmeza, Sierra de Caral, Izabal, Guatemala, 900 m (15°22’29" N, 88°41'44" W)." |
| Reproduction | ovovivparous |
| Types | Holotype: UTA R-46526, a subadult male, The University of Texas at Arlington, from Finca La Firmeza, Sierra de Caral, Izabal, Guatemala, 900 m (15û22'29" N, 88û41'44" W), collected on 30 Aug. 1997 by E. N. Smith. |
| Diagnosis | Definition and diagnosis.–A moderately sized (up to almost a meter in total length), green, arboreal pitviper in which the tail comprises between 16-18% of the TL in males and females. There are 5-9 (x = 7.7) intersupraoculars that are distinctly keeled, 23-26 (x = 24.1) interrictals that are also keeled, 161-168 ventrals, 60-67 undivided subcaudals, and usually 21 (rarely 23) dorsal scale rows at midbody. Bothriechis schlegelii occurs on the same slopes as B. thalassinus but generally at lower elevations. Small, spinelike supraciliary scales between the eye and supraoculars and usually at least 23 dorsal scale rows at midbody distinguish B. schlegelii from B. thalassinus. Two other congeners that occur on the Atlantic slopes of northern Central America, but rarely, if ever, are sympatric with B. thalassinus, include. Bothriechis aurifer has a dorsal pattern of yellow blotches edged with a black border that is often fused between adjacent blotches, only 1-5 intersupraoculars, and usually 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody. Bothriechis marchi has irregular, mostly flat scales on the crown, at least a few of which are usually conspicuously larger than surrounding scales, 3-7 intersupraoculars, and usually 19 scales at midbody. Bothriechis rowleyi of Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico, may be distinguished from B. thalassinus in having 3-5 intersupraoculars that are irregularly shaped, the adjacent scales on the crown lacking parallel keeling, and 19 dorsal scale rows present at midbody. Bothriechis thalassinus most closely resembles B. bicolor of the Pacific slopes of southern Mexico and Guatemala, but B. bicolor differs in having more intersupraoculars (8-10, x = 8.7, in males; 8-11, x = 10.0 in females) and interrictals (27-31, x = 28.5, in males; 27-33, x = 30.3, in females). There is also a subtle difference in the shape of the first pair of infralabials. In B. bicolor these scales are relatively broad, whereas in B. thalassinus they are narrower and the exposure of the scales along the lingual margin is often reduced. Two montane congeners occur south of the Nicaraguan Depression in Costa Rica and Panama. Bothriechis nigroviridis has a green body heavily speckled or mottled with black on the sides and the dorsum, fewer ventrals (139-158) and subcaudals (47-58), and usually 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody. Bothriechis lateralis has distinctive yellow paravertebral vertical bars and yellow paraventral stripes on the body. Further, there are usually 23 midbody dorsal scale rows in this species. [from CAMPBELL & SMITH 2000]. |
| Comment | Venomous! Not listed for Honduras by WILSON & MCCRANIE (2002). Habitat: forests, fully arboreal (Harrington et al. 2018) |
| Etymology | Named after the Greek thalassinos, meaning blue-green, in allusion to the striking coloration of this snake. |
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